Suction cleaner



Oct. 20, 1953 M. A. KENT 2,656,009

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jan. 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Mp5s AKENTB A TORNEY Oct. 20, 1953 M. A. KENT 2,656,009

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jan. 29, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M055 A.KENT BY ATTORIVEY Patented Oct. 20, 1953 es e ce SUGTIQN CLEANER Me s alens t-clin cs .Y- Applicatipn 1] anuary '29, 195 1, fieriaLNO. 208,304

.3 Shims- 1 fi his invention relates to new and useful -:lm provementsin cleaners and has particular -rel-a tion to suction type cleaners.

An object of the invention is to provide a suction type cleanerincluding a dust =bag andwherethe dust may, while remaiming in place inthe cleaner, readily "be exposed to he grasped and agitated by theoperator to shake dust and dirt therefrom into the dust and dirtreceptacle of the cleaner.

Another object is to provide a suction type cleaner of simple andinexpensive construction and yet adapted for heavy use, as in officebui'ldings, apartment houses, hotels and the like, and which is alsosuitable for use in largeghomes.

A further object is to provide a suction cleaner comprising,essentially, a, receptacle and a cover device secured to the receptacle'by ready releasable means and when in place serving to clamp in properposition -a dust bag supporting trame and divider and when removed -fromposition on the receptacle, ex-posing said parts tor removal andcleaning.

Yet another object is to provide a suction cleaner of the characterindicated and wherein suction creating means is mounted in a removablecover device and the latter also mounts a miller.

An additional eobject is to provide a suction Receptacle L is a rigidstructure, preferably of metal, and is open through its upper end atsuch and terminates in a continuous, as annular, H.

In a side wall receptacle Ml is provided an inlet opening or portgenerally designated '13 equipped with .a fitting 14 to which one end ofa'flexihle hose or the like (not shown) is read-.- ily attachable. Onthe other end of such or like there will be attached any or the usualsuction cleaning tools (not shown). As shown, fitting 14 includes anouter element 4%) having its inner .end spun over edges of the openingis and within such element I5 is a swivel bushing J 6 held in place :bya retaining 4r].

inwardly of the port 13, but secured to there- !ceptacle wall as :bybolts 18, is a deflector shield ge'nenallydesignated .19. As such shieldis herein disclosed, the same comprises a transversely arcuate orsemi-cylindrical body portion 2119f rigid material, such as metal, andwithin each per.- tion is a deflector shield lining 24, preferably .ofrubber. While the described deflector-shield wiil :be horeinafterturther considered, it-isnoted that the same extends across the inlet.port or open.- ing 13, is closed at one end as lay an angular bentportion 22 in cooperation with a, wall receptacle ill), :but is .openthrough its other end +23.

"Resting .on the upper end or head 4-2 of recen- .cleaner embodyingmanyimprovements all 'lookmole 441 is a frame generally designated 24and sing toward aimore eilicient useful and economical structureloflong, useful lite.

Other objects and advantages-of the invention will become apparent irom-a consideration of the :following detailed description taken in.connection with the accompanying drawings wherein e. satisfactoryembodiment of the invention :is shown. However, it is to he understood:that the {intention not limited to the details disclosed hut includesall such yalziaticns and modifica- (tions as fall within the spirit .ofthe invention and {the scope of the appended claims.

drawings:

Fig. :1 i a #top :plan view of a con:- structed according i120theainvention;

Fig. .2 a side elevational view thereof;

.3 is an enlarged yertical .central sectional i w ihrough the upperportion of the cleaner;

and

Fig. 4 -is a detail sectional wiew taken as along rtherplane of the=linell- 4 OfFig S.

Referring "in detail to the drawings, my improved suction cleaner, asherein disclosed, cemprises :a-receptacle generally designated 10, showncomprising a continuous, as an annular, member 2 5 of rubber ror othercompressible material and also a continuous, as annular, .metal member-26 comprising, in -.-transverse section, a horizontal portion embedded;in the rubber member 25 and then .a downwardly and outwardly curved orancuate portion 21.

*Resting on the metal member 25 and centered by an inner edge portion ofthe compressible member 25 is \a continuous ,metal ring -28, as anannulus. Ring is supports and has depending therefrom .a ioraminousatruncated .coneeshaped member 29:9 shown ns-iormedcfa relatively heartywire. A wire or other means 30 is disposedabout the upper :end :portionof a dust hag, generally designated 3:1, and anchors such portion andtherehy the dust bag to the curred portion :22!

of the f-rame +24. "-I his dust bag is generally *in andthen-up-intosuchmember.

. the ,ba i shpwn e nqs i a ies wh I u ported for "mobility on fourcasters H. the cleaner isin operation and there it is noted there is nosuction on the dust bag, its portion within the member 29 will fall fromthe position of Fig. 3 but nevertheless such portion will note fallthrough the smaller diameter lower end portion of the member. Inaddition to the described structure, the cleaner includes a cover devicegenerally designated 34. Such device comprises a hollow metal shellhaving an interlining 36 Shell 35 is open through its lower end butincludes a top wall 31 having a central opening 36 thereof felt or othersound absorbing material.

through and the lining 36 of the shell has an opening 39 registeringwith said opening 38.

'Mounted in the lower end portion of the shell 35 is a motor supportingplate 40 of a diameter to'span the open end of the shell and providedwith a depending wall portion 4| located against the inner surface ofthe lower end portion of the smell and secured to the shell as by screws42. Then extending outwardly from the wall portion 41 is a horizontalflange 43 from the outer periphery of which depends a skirt-like portion44. The parts are of such diameter that when the cover device is inplace, as in Fig. 3, the flange 43 is disposed on the upper side of thecompressible member 25 of frame 24 and the depending skirt 44 is aboutthe outer periphery of the bead 12 of the receptacle. Thus, the skirt 44serves to insure a centering of the frame 24 on the bead I2.

On the upper side of the motor supporting plate 40 is a sponge rubberpad 45 against the upper side of which suction creating units, generallydesignated 46, are secured as by clamping bolts 41 having hook-likeportions 48 engaged over the upper edges of the walls of the units 46and having their lower ends passing through the pad 45 and the motorsupporting plate 40 and anchored as by nuts 49. The desired number oftheunits 46 may be employed, i. e., one or more such units, dependingupon the size cleaner being made. I These units are those described inmy co-pending application Ser. No. 172,758, filed July 8, 1950. Mountedon a unit 46 is a thermally operated switch 50, the purpose of which isthat set forth in. the co-pending application of Moss A. Kent, Ser. No.199,429, filed December 6, 1950.

Through the motor supporting plate 40 and the pad 45 are registeringopenings 5| and 52, respectively, such openings placing the interior ofthe receptacle [0 in communication with the cover device 34 through therespective motor units when the cover device is positioned on thereceptacle.

Onthe upper side of the cover device 34 and mounted thereon to form partthereof is a mufiler generally designated 53. This mufiier includes anouter metal shell 54 and upper and lower felt structures 55 and 56separated as by a disc 51 and having radially extending passages 58therethrough all communicating at the center of the device. This mufiler53 is more particularly disclosed in my above mentioned co-pendingapplication.

Extending upwardly through the mufiler device is a rod or post 59 at itsupper end provided with a head 66 normally located under a latch device6] pivoted for swinging movement as at 62. To the lower end of the post59 there is attached a valve structure generally designated 63. Abracket piece 64 serves as a guide limiting movements of the post 59 tovertical movements.

At the upper side of the mufller shell 54 is a handle 65 shown as formedof a piece of hollow tubing. A pair of bolts 66 have their heads locatedat the inner side of the shell 36 of the cover device and then thesebolts pass upwardly through tubular spacer elements 67 and at theirupper ends are threaded into nuts 66 fixed within the end portions ofthe handle 65. In this way, the mufiler device 53 is secured to theshell 35 so as to with the latter form part of the cover device 34 andat the same time the handle 65 is secured in place. The spacers 61prevent excessive tightening of the bolts in the nuts and therebyprevent collapse or compression of the sound absorbing materials 55 and56 in the mufiier.

In a side wall of the shell 35 of the cover device is an opening 69about which is secured a radially extending nipple 19 normally closed asby a plug H fixed to a handle device 12. When the present machine isbeing used as a suction unit, the plug II will be in place completelyclosing the outlet 69. However, at certain'times, the machine may beused as a blower when a hose (not shown) may be attached to the nipple10, the plug II and its handle 12 having been removed.

At such time, or when the machine is being set up for such use, thelatch device 6| is swung on its pivot 62 so as to clear the head 60.Then, as the units 46 are operated, the flow of air toward and throughthe openings 38 and 39 results in the valve 63 being drawn upwardly toseat about the edges of the opening 39. This prevents movement of airfrom the interior of the cover device to the muffler and causes the airto blow out through the outlet 69, the plug H having been removed.

A hose or the like on the nipple conducts the air as desired for theoperation of a cleaning tool or otherwise. Instantly the units 46 arestopped, there is no longer any pressure of air within the shell 35 andthe valve 63 drops to the position shown in Fig. 3 when the latch 6| isswung back to the position of that figure. At this time, the plug IIwill be returned to a position closing off passage through the nipple10.

In assembling the machine for use, the frame 24 carrying the dust bag 3|is disposed on the upper end of the receptacle I0, the dust bagdepending into such receptacle. Then the ring 28 carrying the foraminousmember 29 is dropped into place and thereafter the operator reachesthrough the lower end of the member 29, grasps the lower portion orbottom wall 32 of the dust bag and draws the lower portion of the sameupwardly into said member. Now, the operator positions the cover device34 and, as above noted, the flange 43 of such cover device is locatedagainst the upper side of the compressible member 25 of frame 24 and theskirt 44 for the cover device centers said member with respect to thereceptacle.

At this time, it is noted that on the underside of the motor plate 46there is secured a cupped screen 13. This screen closes the registeringopenings 5| and 52 through the motor plate 40 and the pad 45 wherebythere is no possibility of any portion of the dust bag being drawn upaesa-ooo through any of the units 46 or of any article getting into theunits through such registering openings. In fact, when the cover-deviceis separated from the receptacle, this screen will prevent the operatoror user from getting his lingers into the fan or fans of the suctionunit or units.

' The cover device having been positioned, drawpull catch devices 14 areoperated and draw the cover device tight down onto the receptacleslightly compressing the compressible member whereby the upper end ofthe receptacle is closed in an air-tight fashion. Now, the machine isready .fornse and it is merely necessary that the operator attachthe'desired tool to the'nipp'le l4 and start the units 46.

If the machine is being used for picking up dust and dirt, the dust anddirt is carried into the machine along with the flow of air createdthrough the machine by the units 46 and as the dust and dirt laden airenters the inlet or intake [3, it engages the deflector shell l9 and isdeflected laterally losing some of its momentum. All the air and dirt ordust is deflected in the same direction through the open end 23 of thedeflector shell. The dirt and dust laden air then tends to travel aboutthe vertical wall of the receptacle losing its momentum and dropping thedust and dirt to the bottom of the receptacle ID. The air passes throughthe dust bag and is screened by the latter and then through theregistering openings 5| and 52, through the suction creating units 46and out through the eXhaust or discharge openings 38 and 39 of the shelland liner 36 into the mufiier device 33. Dirt laden water may besomewhat similarly taken up by the machine and z the water collects inthe bottom of the receptacle When using the device for taking up dirtand dust in an air stream, should the dust bag become substantiallyclogged with dust, a temporary job of increasing the efiiciency of themachine may be accomplished by releasing the drawpull catch device 14and lifting off the cover device 34 and then reaching in through theopen upper end of the receptacle and grasping a portion of the dustbagwithin the member 29 and shaking the dust bag. A substantial part of theloose dirt and dust is shaken from the bag and will settle at the bottomof the receptacle ill, the bag having been shaken, the operator replacesthe .cover device and resets the draw-pull catches 14 and proceeds touse the machine.

When the dust bag is to be more thoroughly cleaned, the cover device isremoved as above described and the operator then lifts out the ring 28with the truncated cone-shaped foraminous member 29 and then lifts outthe frame 24 with the dust bag 3| attached thereto. Alternatively, hemay simply lift out the frame 24 and the dust bag and this sameoperation will result in a lifting out of the ring 28 and the member 29.The parts being out of the receptacle, the ring 28 and member 29 areseparated from the dust bag. Thereafter, the dust bag may be thoroughlybeaten or swept and cleaned before the cleaner is reassembled. At suchtimes, that is, when the cover device is removed and the dust bag andmember 29 are dismounted, the receptacle l0 may be emptied.

The machine is adapted for use with a variety of tools such as arewell-known in the art, and where these tools are suction operated, theyare placed in communication with the interior of the receptacle l0through the attaching device l4. With the tools operated by air underslight pres- :sure or by blowing :action, the tools are attached to thenipple Iii and catch .51 is moved on its pivot to permit closingof thevalve $3.

In any event, air is taken through the inlet opening in a side wall ofthe receptacle .andthen -moves into the cover deviceonly through the.dust bag '31, the interior of the :cover device being otherwise sealedoff from the interior of the receptacle. The .castors 1| :are shown asperms :nently secured to the receptacle, and when the machine is:asembled, the handle 55 provides a 'eonvenient means for rolling .themachine from one place to another. The whole machine is of comparativelylight weight and may readily be made more or less powerful in itsaction, depending upon thenumber of units 46 employed there- Having thusset forth the nature of my invention. whatlplaim is:

1. In a suction cleaner, a receptacle hav'ingan annular side wall openat its upper end, an annular frame seated on the upper end of saidreceptacle and forming an annularly continuous air-tight seal therewith,an annular rigid screen member of truncated cone-shape with its largerend being the upper end, said screen member being open at its upper andlower ends and supported at its upper end by said frame and dependinginto said receptacle, a flexible dust bag having an open end and aclosed end and of generally hourglass shape when extended, said open endbeing engaged and secured about said annular frame outwardly of saidscreen member. said bag extending in downwardly convergent relationabout the outer side of said screen member. in folded relation about thelower end of said screen member, and in upwardly divergent relationwithin said screen member with its closed end facing upwardly and freelydisposed within the open upper end of said screen member. said closedend being of less diameter than the diameter of the upper end of saidscreen member and of greater diameter than the diameter of the lower endof said screen member, a cover device normally closing the upper end ofsaid receptacle in air-tight fashion and removable therefrom to exposethe upper open end of said screen member supported within saidreceptacle, a suction unit in said cover device for creating a suctionupwardly through said dust bag to draw the closed end of said dust bagupwardly within said screen. an inlet in a wall of said receptacle, anoutlet in said cover device, means for detachably securing said coverdevice to said receptacle in air-tight relation with said open upper endthereof, and said dust bag adapted upon removal of said cover to haveits closed end exposed for shaking purposes and being free to be graspedand moved downwardly through the open lower end of said screen member.

2. In a suction cleaner, a housing having a lower receptacle part and anupper cover part including a top wall and a side wall, said lower.receptacle part having an air inlet and said upper cover part having anexhaust outlet in said top wall and a blower outlet in said side wall. asuction unit within said housing having a lower inlet end and an upperoutlet end for creating a suction through said air inlet of saidreceptacle part, a removable means for normally closing said bloweroutlet, valve means for opening and clos-- ing said exhaust outletcomprising a vertically movable post within said exhaust outlet, guidemeans for said post, a valve head upon the lower end of said postadapted in a relatively raised Number said suction unit and movablethereby to close said exhaust outlet by the pressure of said air,

'a movable means normally in the path of upward -movement of said postfor maintaining said valve head in open position, and said movable means10 shiftable to release said post for movement of said .valve head toclosed relation with said exhaust outlet.

MOSS A. KENT.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NameDate 1,198,968 Stevens Sept. 19, 1916 Number Number Name Date Adams June23, 1936 Paine July 14, 1936 Baker July 31, 1945 McAllister May 11, 1948Kirby .Mar. 14, 1950 McAllister May 16, 1950 Lewyt et a1 July 25, 1950FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 7 Great Britain Aug. 12, 1926 Great BritainSept. 1. 1932 France Oct. 1, 1945

